Posted: December 21st, 2022
Epidemiologic Profile Assignment Paper.
Benchmark – Epidemiologic Profile Assignment. WEEK 7 ASSIGNMENT.
An epidemiologic profile is a summary of a significant public health issue, or issues, in your community, county, state, or country. An epidemiological profile helps to coordinate activities and policies from various agencies and organizations to improve health.Epidemiologic Profile Assignment Paper.
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Review the available data, reports, and documents for your locale. Assess how the methods of epidemiology (study designs, data collection, measures of association, etc.) are used to determine who needs what services, where the services are needed, and how those services should be delivered. Define your community as your city, metropolitan area, or county and write a 2,000-2,250 word epidemiological profile (word limit excludes references and title page).The profile can be a general profile that provides a landscape picture of several significant chronic and infectious diseases in your defined community, or it can be a specific profile that targets one health issue, such as diabetes, asthma, STDs, flu, heart disease, obesity, alcohol abuse, or other drug use. Include the following:Epidemiologic Profile Assignment Paper.
Executive Summary
Describe the purpose of the epidemiologic profile and the health issue(s) it addresses. Discuss its importance to the community and how it will be utilized.
Summarize the key findings from your review of available data, reports, and documents for the community.
Introduction
Describe the defined community and population using demographic and socio-economic information and data.
Briefly describe the history and cultural background of the community.
Explain any unique contextual information that pertains to the public health of the defined community.
Describe any key public health projects, grants, or existing epidemiology-related working groups or committees in the community/county.
Description of Available Data
Identify at least two different data sources relevant to your profile. Discuss data from these sources and their relation to the issue or community.Epidemiologic Profile Assignment Paper.
Discuss the methods used in the data collection process (data source and organization providing the data; how often the data are collected; data limitations including response rates, missing data, selection of participants, etc.). Potential data sources and databases might include the following depending on what is available for your community or county:
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data
Youth risk behavioral survey
Surveillance, epidemiology, and end results (SEER) program data
CDC Wonder (multiple data sources)
County health rankings data (multiple data sources)
Alcohol-related disease impact data
Demographic health survey data (international)
Global school-based student health survey (international)
Local evaluation reports from the department/ministry of health or other nonprofit organizations
Interpretation of Results Regarding Key Health Issue
Size and magnitude of the measures
Trends and comparisons
Economic costs
Discussion of Problems and Strategies
Discuss disparities, limitations, and gaps in the information available regarding the health issue(s).
Describe potential public health strategies to address these gaps.
Use graphs and tables where appropriate.Epidemiologic Profile Assignment Paper.
Conclusion
You are required to cite to at least five sources to complete this assignment. Sources should be published within the last 5 years and appropriate for the assignment criteria and public health content.
General Requirements
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.Epidemiologic Profile Assignment Paper.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Refer to the LopesWrite Technical Support articles for assistance.
Benchmark Information
This benchmark assignment assesses the following programmatic competency:
MPH
2.1 Apply epidemiological methods to the breadth of settings and situations in public health practice.
MSN Public Health Nursing
6.2 Apply epidemiological methods to the breadth of settings and situations in public health practice.
Abstract
This epidemiologic profile provides information about the epidemiology of HIV/AIDS in Los Angeles county. Los Angeles is a culturally diverse county and it is estimated to have a population of3.99 million with is 27.8% White Alone, 48.9% Hispanic/Latino, and 11.9% Asian Alone. The department of Public Health in Los Angeles is health protection, disease prevention, and to promote well-being and health of the county’s residents.Epidemiologic Profile Assignment Paper.
Sources of data in this epidemiologic profile included National HIV Behavioral Surveillance and CDC Revised Surveillance Case Definition for HIV Infection. Approximately 61, 000 in Los Angeles County are HIV positive, and the majority are effectively and efficiently managing the HIV infection. Populations with an increased burden of new cases of rates are among Latino African-American men who have sex with men, young males (18-29-years) and black transgender women. The identified subpopulations face discrimination and stigmatization. The identified strategies to address HIV in Los Angeles County, and especially among the high-risk populations include improving accessibility to biomedical prevention such as PEO and PrEP; Targeting HIV high-risk areas using the epidemiologic evidence; and promoting protective and resiliency factorsamong the high-risk populations.Epidemiologic Profile Assignment Paper.
Benchmark – Epidemiologic Profile Assignment
HIV/AIDS in Los Angeles County
Introduction
This epidemiologic profile provides information about the epidemiology of HIV/AIDS in Los Angeles county. The information is relevant to the policy-maker, planners, and community-based organizations as it can help them to plan, implement, and evaluate programs and policies involving HIV/AIDS prevention, care, research and education. It is hoped that the provision of accurate and prompt information will provide in decreasing the prevalence and impact of HIV/AIDS in Los Angeles county.Epidemiologic Profile Assignment Paper.
Los Angeles County is estimated to have a population of3.99 million.The population of the county is 27.8% White Alone, 48.9% Hispanic/Latino, and 11.9% Asian Alone (U.S. Census Bureau, 2019). 80.7% of individuals in Los Angeles are American citizens while 59.2% are non-English speakers.Epidemiologic Profile Assignment Paper.
Table 1: Population by Race in Los Angeles
Race Percentage
White Alone 27.8%
Hispanic/Latino 48.9%
Asian Alone 11.9%
Others 11.4%
The gender distribution in the county is 49.3% for males and 50.7% for females. Los Angeles has a higher proportion of middle-aged and young adults and a lower number of individuals aged 50-years and above and few residents aged 65-years and above, indicating that the county is growing at a very fast rate.Epidemiologic Profile Assignment Paper.
The Los Angeles economy provides employment to approximately 2.06M individuals and the largest industries include Health Care & Social Assistance (247,081 individuals), Accommodation & Food Services (180,782 individuals), and Retail Trade (203,942 individuals).
Figure 1: Largest industries in Los Angeles
The median age in Los Angeles is 35.8 while the median income for each household is $62,474. The income inequality in the county is 0.499, and this is higher when compared to the national average (Kim et al., 2018).
Los Angeles County initially inhabited native Americans before other cultural groups settled in the region. The region has deep roots in Latino and indigenous culture. The county is influenced by the Hollywood film industry and it is perceived to be the 3rd largest metropolitan economy, worldwide.Epidemiologic Profile Assignment Paper.
The leading causes of death in Los Angeles county are heart disease; stroke; lung cancer; COPD; Alzheimer’s disease; type 1 diabetes; influenza and pneumonia; colorectal cancer; liver disease and cirrhosis; and hypertension and hypertensive renal disease. Nonetheless, the HIV death rate is highest among black Americans.Epidemiologic Profile Assignment Paper.
The purpose of Department of Public Health in Los Angeles is health protection, disease prevention, and to promote the well-being and health of the county’s residents. The department of public health has 14 public health centers and 39 programs. The main activities for the department of public health include direct medical services for STDs, tuberculosis, and vaccinations; control of communicable diseases and surveillance of diseases; inspecting food facilities; prevention and control of substance abuse; and disaster preparedness and response (Kuo et al., 2018).
Description of Available Data
The sources of data included National HIV Behavioral Surveillance and CDC Revised Surveillance Case Definition for HIV Infection. Surveillance of HIV/AIDS is an important public health activity that started in the county within 1982 and collects data on HIV/AIDS. The HIV surveillance system includes individuals who have been diagnosed with HIV. The HIV surveillance programs utilize passive and active methods in identifying and collecting data on individuals with HIV diagnosis at clinics, hospitals, community-based organizations, laboratories, doctor’s offices, and hospices.Epidemiologic Profile Assignment Paper. During surveillance, sites are routinely visited and contacted to complete HIV case reports. HIV surveillance activities encompass collecting information on demographics, clinical factors, and how the HIV virus was transmitted; this is done to monitor the transmission trends and implement the appropriate interventions.Epidemiologic Profile Assignment Paper.
National HIV Behavioral Surveillance is a behavioral surveillance system that is financed by CDC and it is used in monitoring HIV-risk behaviors in groups with the highest risk of getting HIV.Epidemiologic Profile Assignment Paper.
Interpretation of Results Regarding Key Health Issue
Currently, approximately 61, 000 within Los Angeles County are HIV positive, and the majority of individuals who are HIV positive are effectively and efficiently managing their infection (as indicated by the viral suppression and undetectable levels of HIV in the blood) by using antiretroviral therapy (ART). The majority of the marginalized and minority residents in Los Angeles County can attain viral suppression by being able to access the lifesaving treatment (anti-retroviral therapy) and also accessing other services that improve their navigation to the health system and access. In the year 2016, there were 1,881 new cases of HIV and 84% of them were as a result of sex between men. The HIV epidemic continues increasing because of sex between men. The prevalence of HIV is highest among men of color, transgender people, and young men aged between 18-29 years. For the many (tens of thousands) of individuals in the County with undiagnosed HIV infection or the diagnosed but with unmanaged infections, the public health action along with clinical intervention will make an impact if such individuals are diagnosed, connected to care, and treated promptly (Buchbinder & Liu, 2018).Epidemiologic Profile Assignment Paper.
Figure 2: AnnualDiagnosesofHIVInfection1,Stage3HIVInfection(AIDS),PersonsLivingwithHIV(PLWH),andDeathsamongPersonsDiagnosedwithHIVInfection,LosAngelesCounty,2010‐2017
It is notable that consistent with the national trends of HIV, in Los Angeles County there has been an overall decrease in HIV mortality and morbidity. Nonetheless, after antiretroviral treatment was introduced within 1996, the decline in death has overtaken the decline in new cases of HIV diagnoses, and the number of people with HIV has continued to rise within Los Angeles county. According to the HIV Surveillance, almost 49, 000 individuals living with HIV were diagnosed and reported to be residents of Los Angeles county. These statistics account for people with HIV laboratory reports awaiting confirmation as well as the number of people living with HIV who are not tested and therefore are not aware of their HIV status (Buchbinder & Liu, 2018).Epidemiologic Profile Assignment Paper.
Trend Data
Even though there has been a reduction in the number of new HIV infections, diagnoses of AIDS and mortality rate, recently the reduction is not dramatic, in spite of the emergence of new HIV screening technologies, biomedical interventions, and treatment regimens. For example, between the years 2014 and 2016, statistics indicate that there was a 5.6 percent rise in non-AIDS HIV prevalence, while there was a 3.1 percent decline in the prevalence of AIDS. Around 600 deaths among people living with HIV were reported in the year 2014, while 270 of the deaths were attributable to the HIV disease or infections related to HIV. The number of deaths linked to HIV is projected to reduce with the improved levels of viral suppression.Epidemiologic Profile Assignment Paper.
Populations with an increased burden of new cases of rates are among Latino African-American men who have sex with men, young males (18-29-years) and black transgender women. In these subpopulations, the overall rate of HIV was 1.1% higher when compared to the general population. Among young men who have sex with men (YMSM), the rate of new HIV cases was 1.9%; for Latino men who have sex with men the rate was 2.1 percent; transgender people have the rate of 2.4 percent; while the rate of new cases of HIV among African-
Figure 3: Rates of HIV Diagnosis by Race/Ethnicity in Los Angeles County
American men who have sex with men was three times higher at 3.8 percent, in comparison to the overall new cases of HIV observed across Los Angeles County (Tonia et al., 2016). In the year 2016, a 90-day linkage to care rate for people with a new diagnosis of HIV was 68.5 percent.Epidemiologic Profile Assignment Paper.
Rate of New HIV Cases for subpopulations an increased burden of new cases
Subpopulation Percentage
Young men who have sex with men (YMSM) 1.9%
Latino men who have sex with men 2.1%
Transgender people 2.4%
HIV among African- American men who have sex with men 3.8%
Problems and Strategies
The prevalence of HIV is highest among Latino African-American homosexual males, young males (8-29-years) and black transgender women. These are some of the marginalized populations within Los Angeles county.
Individuals who experience discrimination and racism are likely to engage in high-risk behaviors that lead to HIV/STDs, engage in sexual activities as a way to survive, might not seek healthcare services when necessary, and can also suffer from mental health problems. Racism and discrimination also havean oppressive impact on sexuality. People living with HIV are often discriminated and this hinders them from seeking and receiving the appropriate care, patient education, as well as the appropriate services to effectively manage their HIV infection and also prevent more transmissions (Tran et al., 2019).Epidemiologic Profile Assignment Paper.
Young men who have sex with men may be rejected by their family members and also experience domestic violence and this can subject them to homelessness. Discrimination, stigmatization, as well as internalized homophobia, are some factors attributable to the higher rate of risky sexual behaviors such as unprotected sex. In addition, increased levels of such stigmatization are allied to people refusing to get tested for HIV, inaccurate assessment of an individual’s risk for HIV, as well as not taking part in HIV prevention projects. The fear of being labeled as a homosexual may also hinder health-seeking and health-promoting behaviors. Individuals who experience intensified levels of homophobia are more likely to engage in sexual risk activities (Tran et al., 2019). Homophobia, in society and communities, leads to disconnections between individuals and their sexual craving by making men perceive same-sex relationships negatively, and this can result in self-hate. Evidence shows that individuals who experience high levels of racism, discrimination, and homophobia have been allied to an increased rate of mental problems and suicidal thoughts among Latino homosexual men (George, 2019). In addition, viral suppression and transmission of HIV are closely linked to numerous health inequalities.Epidemiologic Profile Assignment Paper.
Strategies to Reduce Rates of HIV in Los Angeles county
i. Improve Accessibility to Biomedical Prevention
Access to preventative interventions such as Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) should be improved. In addition, the awareness about the efficacy and impact of PrEP among the high-risk groups for the HIV infection need to be improved. Estimates indicate the more than 70, 000 individuals within Los Angeles County are at an increased risk for HIV and hence increased awareness and accessibility to PEP and PrEP could go a long way in reducing the rate of new cases of HIV in Los Angeles county (Hughes et al., 2019).
ii. Target HIV High-Risk Areas using the Epidemiologic Evidence
The epidemiologic data would provide the multiple socio-economic and health conditions to determine the districts within Los Angeles county that have people with an elevated risk for HIV. Spatial epidemiology can be utilized to assess disease burden and interrelationship of outcomes along the care continuum of HIV. Surveillance data for HIV, HIV testing, as well as data on care services are recorded in layers to determine locations where the nexus of HIV disease is particularly evident (Jones et al., 2019). As a result, testing resources are allocated to the high-risk populations and where the rates of new cases of HIV are higher as well as high rates of undiagnosed HIV cases.Epidemiologic Profile Assignment Paper.
Therefore, the surveillance and clinical data can be used to estimate the rates of suppressed HIV viral load, people living with HIV, and ART overate to determine locations and subpopulations that need exhaustive interventions. The geographic response can encompass facilitating access to free condoms in locations within Los Angeles that are identified as having an elevated disease burden and in locations where individuals at increased risk for HIV infection are socially concentrated (Jones et al., 2019).
iii. PromotingProtective and Resiliency Factors
The prevalence of HIV is highest among Latino African-American homosexual males, young males (18-29-years) and black transgender women. Therefore, it is important to promote protective and resiliency factors. Resilience refers to the ability of a person to recover from adversity, misfortune or change (Wong et al., 2019). Therefore, resilience is important to Latino African-American homosexual males, young males (18-29-years) and black transgender women. This is because these sublocations face homophobia, discrimination and injustices, as well as other minority stressors. These forms of experiences can lead to emotional distress that can see such individuals engaging in risky sexual behaviors and thus increasing their risk for HIV.Epidemiologic Profile Assignment Paper.
Protective factors specific traits that can protect the identified subpopulation from HIV infections. The protective factors that can be used for the subpopulations include peer support, improving their self-esteem; and effective participation in community and school activities (Wong et al., 2019).Epidemiologic Profile Assignment Paper.
Conclusion
The sources of data included National HIV Behavioral Surveillance and CDC Revised Surveillance Case Definition for HIV Infection. Approximately 61, 000 in Los Angeles County are HIV positive, and the majority are effectively and efficiently managing the HIV infection. Latino African-American men who have sex with men, young males (18-29-years), and black transgender women are at an increased risk of HIV infection within Los Angeles County. The identified subpopulations face discrimination and stigmatization. The identified strategies to address HIV in Los Angeles County, and especially among the high-risk populations include improving accessibility to biomedical prevention such as PEO and PrEP; Targeting HIV high-risk areas using the epidemiologic evidence; and promoting protective and resiliency factorsamong the high-risk populations.
Abstract
This epidemiologic profile provides information about the epidemiology of HIV/AIDS in Los Angeles county. Los Angeles is a culturally diverse county and it is estimated to have a population of3.99 million with is 27.8% White Alone, 48.9% Hispanic/Latino, and 11.9% Asian Alone. The department of Public Health in Los Angeles is health protection, disease prevention, and to promote well-being and health of the county’s residents.
Sources of data in this epidemiologic profile included National HIV Behavioral Surveillance and CDC Revised Surveillance Case Definition for HIV Infection. Approximately 61, 000 in Los Angeles County are HIV positive, and the majority are effectively and efficiently managing the HIV infection. Populations with an increased burden of new cases of rates are among Latino African-American men who have sex with men, young males (18-29-years) and black transgender women. The identified subpopulations face discrimination and stigmatization. The identified strategies to address HIV in Los Angeles County, and especially among the high-risk populations include improving accessibility to biomedical prevention such as PEO and PrEP; Targeting HIV high-risk areas using the epidemiologic evidence; and promoting protective and resiliency factorsamong the high-risk populations.Epidemiologic Profile Assignment Paper.
Benchmark – Epidemiologic Profile Assignment
HIV/AIDS in Los Angeles County
Introduction
This epidemiologic profile provides information about the epidemiology of HIV/AIDS in Los Angeles county. The information is relevant to the policy-maker, planners, and community-based organizations as it can help them to plan, implement, and evaluate programs and policies involving HIV/AIDS prevention, care, research and education. It is hoped that the provision of accurate and prompt information will provide in decreasing the prevalence and impact of HIV/AIDS in Los Angeles county.
Los Angeles County is estimated to have a population of3.99 million.The population of the county is 27.8% White Alone, 48.9% Hispanic/Latino, and 11.9% Asian Alone (U.S. Census Bureau, 2019). 80.7% of individuals in Los Angeles are American citizens while 59.2% are non-English speakers. The gender distribution in the county is 49.3% for males and 50.7% for females. Los Angeles has a higher proportion of middle-aged and young adults and a lower number of individuals aged 50-years and above and few residents aged 65-years and above, indicating that the county is growing at a very fast rate.
The Los Angeles economy provides employment to approximately 2.06M individuals and the largest industries include Health Care & Social Assistance (247,081 individuals), Accommodation & Food Services (180,782 individuals), and Retail Trade (203,942 individuals).The median age in Los Angeles is 35.8 while the median income for each household is $62,474. The income inequality in the county is 0.499, and this is higher when compared to the national average (Kim et al., 2018).
Los Angeles County initially inhabited native Americans before other cultural groups settled in the region. The region has deep roots in Latino and indigenous culture. The county is influenced by the Hollywood film industry and it is perceived to be the 3rd largest metropolitan economy, worldwide.
The leading causes of death in Los Angeles county are heart disease; stroke; lung cancer; COPD; Alzheimer’s disease; type 1 diabetes; influenza and pneumonia; colorectal cancer; liver disease and cirrhosis; and hypertension and hypertensive renal disease. Nonetheless, the HIV death rate is highest among black Americans.
The purpose of Department of Public Health in Los Angeles is health protection, disease prevention, and to promote the well-being and health of the county’s residents. The department of public health has 14 public health centers and 39 programs. The main activities for the department of public health include direct medical services for STDs, tuberculosis, and vaccinations; control of communicable diseases and surveillance of diseases; inspecting food facilities; prevention and control of substance abuse; and disaster preparedness and response (Kuo et al., 2018).
Description of Available Data
The sources of data included National HIV Behavioral Surveillance and CDC Revised Surveillance Case Definition for HIV Infection. Surveillance of HIV/AIDS is an important public health activity that started in the county within 1982 and collects data on HIV/AIDS. The HIV surveillance system includes individuals who have been diagnosed with HIV. The HIV surveillance programs utilize passive and active methods in identifying and collecting data on individuals with HIV diagnosis at clinics, hospitals, community-based organizations, laboratories, doctor’s offices, and hospices. During surveillance, sites are routinely visited and contacted to complete HIV case reports. HIV surveillance activities encompass collecting information on demographics, clinical factors, and how the HIV virus was transmitted; this is done to monitor the transmission trends and implement the appropriate interventions.
National HIV Behavioral Surveillance is a behavioral surveillance system that is financed by CDC and it is used in monitoring HIV-risk behaviors in groups with the highest risk of getting HIV.Epidemiologic Profile Assignment Paper.
Interpretation of Results Regarding Key Health Issue
Currently, approximately 61,000 within Los Angeles County are HIV positive, and the majority of individuals who are HIV positive are effectively and efficiently managing their infection (as indicated by the viral suppression and undetectable levels of HIV in the blood) by using antiretroviral therapy (ART).The majority of the marginalized and minority residents in Los Angeles County can attain viral suppression by being able to access the lifesaving treatment (anti-retroviral therapy) and also accessing other services that improve their navigation to the health system and access. In the year 2016, there were 1,881 new cases of HIV and 84% of them were as a result of sex between men. The HIV epidemic continues increasing because of sex between men. The prevalence of HIV is highest among men of color, transgender people, and young men aged between 18-29 years. For the many (tens of thousands) of individuals in the County with undiagnosed HIV infection or the diagnosed but with unmanaged infections, the public health action along with clinical intervention will make an impact if such individuals are diagnosed, connected to care, and treated promptly(Buchbinder & Liu, 2018).
It is notable that consistent with the national trends of HIV, in Los Angeles County there has been an overall decrease in HIV mortality and morbidity. Nonetheless, after antiretroviral treatment was introduced within 1996, the decline in death has overtaken the decline in new cases of HIV diagnoses, and the number of people with HIV has continued to rise within Los Angeles county. According to the HIV Surveillance, almost 49, 000 individuals living with HIV were diagnosed and reported to be residents of Los Angeles county. These statistics account for people with HIV laboratory reports awaiting confirmation as well as the number of people living with HIV who are not tested and therefore are not aware of their HIV status (Buchbinder& Liu, 2018).
Trend Data
Even though there has been a reduction in the number of new HIV infections, diagnoses of AIDS and mortality rate, recently the reduction is not dramatic, in spite of the emergence of new HIV screening technologies, biomedical interventions, and treatment regimens. For example, between the years 2014 and 2016, statistics indicate that there was a 5.6 percent rise in non-AIDS HIV prevalence, while there was a 3.1 percent decline in the prevalence of AIDS. Around 600 deaths among people living with HIV were reported in the year 2014, while 270 of the deaths were attributable to the HIV disease or infections related to HIV. The number of deaths linked to HIV is projected to reduce with the improved levels of viral suppression.Epidemiologic Profile Assignment Paper.
Populations with an increased burden of new cases of rates are among Latino African-Americanmen who have sex with men, young males (18-29-years) and black transgender women. In these subpopulations, the overall rate of HIV was 1.1% higher when compared to the general population. Among young men who have sex with men (YMSM), the rate of new HIV cases was 1.9; for Latino men who have sex with men the rate was 2.1 percent; transgender people have the rate of 2.4 percent; while the rate of new cases of HIV among African- Americanmen who have sex with men was three times higher at 3.8 percent, in comparison to the overall new cases of HIV observed across Los Angeles County (Tonia et al., 2016). In the year 2016, a 90-day linkage to care rate for people with a new diagnosis of HIV was 68.5 percent.Epidemiologic Profile Assignment Paper.
Problems and Strategies
The prevalence of HIV is highest among Latino African-American homosexual males, young males (8-29-years) and black transgender women. These are some of the marginalized populations within Los Angeles county.
Individuals who experience discrimination and racism are likely to engage in high-risk behaviors that lead to HIV/STDs, engage in sexual activities as a way to survive, might not seek healthcare services when necessary, and can also suffer from mental health problems. Racism and discrimination also havean oppressive impact on sexuality. People living with HIV are often discriminated and this hinders them from seeking and receiving the appropriate care, patient education, as well as the appropriate services to effectively manage their HIV infection and also prevent more transmissions (Tran et al., 2019).
Young men who have sex with men may be rejected by their family members and also experience domestic violence and this can subject them to homelessness. Discrimination, stigmatization, as well as internalized homophobia, are some factors attributable to the higher rate of risky sexual behaviors such as unprotected sex. In addition, increased levels of such stigmatization are allied to people refusing to get tested for HIV, inaccurate assessment of an individual’s risk for HIV, as well as not taking part in HIV prevention projects. The fear of being labeled as a homosexual may also hinder health-seeking and health-promoting behaviors. Individuals who experience intensified levels of homophobia are more likely to engage in sexual risk activities (Tran et al., 2019). Homophobia, in society and communities, leads to disconnections between individuals and their sexual craving by making men perceive same-sex relationships negatively, and this can result in self-hate. Evidence shows that individuals who experience high levels of racism, discrimination, and homophobia have been allied to an increased rate of mental problems and suicidal thoughts among Latino homosexual men (George, 2019). In addition, viral suppression and transmission of HIV are closely linked to numerous health inequalities.Epidemiologic Profile Assignment Paper.
Strategies to Reduce Rates of HIV in Los Angeles county
i. Improve Accessibility to Biomedical Prevention
Access to preventative interventions such as Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) should be improved. In addition, the awareness about the efficacy and impact of PrEP among the high-risk groups for the HIV infection need to be improved. Estimates indicate the more than 70, 000 individuals within Los Angeles County are at an increased risk for HIV and hence increased awareness and accessibility to PEP and PrEP could go a long way in reducing the rate of new cases of HIV in Los Angeles county (Hughes et al., 2019).
ii. Target HIV High-Risk Areas using the Epidemiologic Evidence
The epidemiologic data would provide the multiple socio-economic and health conditions to determine the districts within Los Angeles county that have people with an elevated risk for HIV. Spatial epidemiology can be utilized to assess disease burden and interrelationship of outcomes along the care continuum of HIV. Surveillance data for HIV, HIV testing, as well as data on care services are recorded in layers to determine locations where the nexus of HIV disease is particularly evident (Jones et al., 2019). As a result, testing resources are allocated to the high-risk populations and where the rates of new cases of HIV are higher as well as high rates of undiagnosed HIV cases.
Therefore, the surveillance and clinical data can be used to estimate the rates of suppressed HIV viral load, people living with HIV, and ART overate to determine locations and subpopulations that need exhaustive interventions. The geographic response can encompass facilitating access to free condoms in locations within Los Angeles that are identified as having an elevated disease burden and in locations where individuals at increased risk for HIV infection are socially concentrated (Jones et al., 2019).Epidemiologic Profile Assignment Paper.
iii. PromotingProtective and Resiliency Factors
The prevalence of HIV is highest among Latino African-American homosexual males, young males (18-29-years) and black transgender women. Therefore, it is important to promote protective and resiliency factors. Resilience refers to the ability of a person to recover from adversity, misfortune or change (Wong et al., 2019). Therefore, resilience is important to Latino African-American homosexual males, young males (18-29-years) and black transgender women. This is because these sublocations face homophobia, discrimination and injustices, as well as other minority stressors. These forms of experiences can lead to emotional distress that can see such individuals engaging in risky sexual behaviors and thus increasing their risk for HIV.
Protective factors specific traits that can protect the identified subpopulation from HIV infections. The protective factors that can be used for the subpopulations include peer support, improving their self-esteem; and effective participation in community and school activities(Wong et al., 2019).
Conclusion
The sources of data included National HIV Behavioral Surveillance and CDC Revised Surveillance Case Definition for HIV Infection. Approximately 61, 000 in Los Angeles County are HIV positive, and the majority are effectively and efficiently managing the HIV infection. Latino African-American men who have sex with men, young males (18-29-years), and black transgender women are at an increased risk of HIV infection within Los Angeles County. The identified subpopulations face discrimination and stigmatization. The identified strategies to address HIV in Los Angeles County, and especially among the high-risk populations include improving accessibility to biomedical prevention such as PEO and PrEP; Targeting HIV high-risk areas using the epidemiologic evidence; and promoting protective and resiliency factorsamong the high-risk populations.Epidemiologic Profile Assignment Paper.
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